The Rays and the World Baseball Classic

by Erik Hahmann on Jan 13, 2009 12:01 PM EST Comment 25 comments

The WBC is starting soon, with Team USA reporting March 2nd in Clearwater. The only Rays currently on WBC rosters are Carlos Pena(Dominican Republic) and Aki Iwamura(Japan).

I don't want any pitchers to participate, especially no starters. However, I would like to see more position players go, specifically Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria. Tommy and I were talking, and those two make the most sense. Mark DeRosa is on the roster but Team USA needs a better reserve outfielder. With Benedict A-Rod defecting to the Dominican Team, David Wright looks to be the only 3B on the roster(Chipper Jones seems to be the DH at this point). If those two were to play it would not only give them a head start on the season, it would give players such as Willy Aybar and Matt Joyce more playing time in spring training. It would seem to be a win/win for both sides.

What do you all think? Would it be a good idea for Team USA and the Rays?

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Arod's gotten kinda creepy recently

The Dominicans can have him. I’d like to at least see CC out there so that some of our new outfielders can get a little more work in ST.

by Albertrayon on Jan 13, 2009 12:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would rather have CC get a little extra rest

I dont need to see him playing hard until the middle of March. We need those hamstrings good and rested for the season.

by Devil Ray on Jan 13, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

disapointing to see Pena play for the DR over the USA (unless he was not offered a slot in the US team.)

by walkoffwalk on Jan 13, 2009 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Somebody has to pick up the slack on that team for Big Sloppy

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Jan 13, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thats why they have the best player in baseball

by nolesblogger on Jan 13, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Beej was the best Playa in baseball?

by kericr on Jan 13, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the idea of Longoria playing

not so much CC, would rather him rest.

by RaysTheRoof on Jan 13, 2009 1:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wish-list WBC line-ups are fun.

USA:

CF Grady Sizemore
RF BJ Upton
LF Ryan Braun
1B Mark Teixiera/Lance Berkman
2B Chase Utley
DH Ryan Howard
3B David Wright/Evan Longoria
C Joe Mauer
SS Michael Young (its either him or Jeter, USA is pretty light at SS)

But anyways, got runs?

by twenty5psi on Jan 13, 2009 2:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd have Jimmy Rollins at short.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 13, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Benedict A-Rod

I don’t understand the statement in light of the fact you’d rather not have any of our pitchers go. If the tournament isn’t important enough to send our best players, who cares where A-Rod, or anyone plays?

by GomesSweetGomes on Jan 13, 2009 3:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t want any of our pitchers to go because I’m selfish and don’t want any of them to get injured. A-Rod played for USA in 2006 and is not playing for the DR. It’s a joke.

by Erik Hahmann on Jan 13, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that

But my view is that either it’s a serious international competition or it isn’t. If it is, then we should have the best players across the board. If it isn’t I don’t see the point in getting too worked up about who plays for who. I think it may take the US losing a few of these before our players start taking it seriously.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jan 13, 2009 5:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

...I think that's the point. It's called sarcasm.

Does anyone really care that A-Rod switched allegiances? No, but you’re going to hear A-Rod referred to as a traitor by the media, if that hasn’t already started. It’s not a serious tourney, but you’ll hear people trying to make a big deal out of it all.

"I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation." - Satchel Paige

by Steve Slowinski on Jan 13, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

petty..petty dealings

but I saw Italy vs. the DR in ‘06 in Orlando and you would not believe the amount of animosity within the stadium towards A-Rod, their was actually one fan singled out and boo’d for 10-15 minutes who had a Yankees a-rod jersey on and security was standing by until he changed his shirt to an Ortiz DR one at which point the stadium erupted in applause… of course the game I went to in the ‘06 WBC was in orlando which has a higher percentage of people from ’Hispanola’ and Puerto Rico than most parts of the country

IF only Harry Carey could be arounde for Kosuke.

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jan 13, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's terrifying

by mittens on Jan 14, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate the WBC

i hope it’s abolished

by Raymondo on Jan 13, 2009 3:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

by rglass44 on Jan 13, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

See I actually like it. Now that the Olympics have gotten rid of it I think we need something like this.

by Erik Hahmann on Jan 13, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Then do it with amateurs

These players are far too valuable to have an extra month of theseason. Also, throw in the fact that we’ll be watching the winter classic in November this year, and I just wish the WBC would go away.

by rglass44 on Jan 13, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We'll have to agree to disagree Mr. Glass.

by Erik Hahmann on Jan 13, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

by rglass44 on Jan 13, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gasp

I love the Classic!!!

So what if some one gets injured?! I love watching baseball, and they love playing it! These things (injuries) happen.

B Rad the Ray Fan

by B Ray on Jan 13, 2009 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I prefer watching

my team do spring practice than watching WBC action.

by bobr on Jan 13, 2009 11:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My reason tells me that the WBC is a good idea

but I don’t like it and am entirely uninterested in following it. My primary concern is the Rays. I hate the idea that spring training is interrupted for any of our players, pitchers or hitters. I understand that it may give some bubble players an opportunity to get longer looks, but that does not balance the scales for me.

I imagine the WBC will spread the gospel of baseball world-wide, and that is a good thing, but I still cannot get enthusiastic about the tournament itself. I dislike any effort to associate games with some patriotic emotion anyway, but fundamentally, I am narrowly interested in the success of my team in the pennant race and do not want to be distracted from that, or to have the players’ attention split.

by bobr on Jan 13, 2009 4:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs